FNB Varsity Cup
All you need to know ahead of Thursday's decider at Davidson Rugby Field.
MATCH TRIVIA
– Only four of the previous 10 FNB Varsity Shield finals were won by double digits, with five decided by seven points or less.
– This will be the first time that FNB UFH and FNB CPUT face each other in an FNB Varsity Shield knockout game.
– This will be Fort Hare's second FNB Varsity Shield final. Their only previous final appearance was a 45-2 defeat against FNB UWC in 2017.
– FNB UFH are undefeated this season, winning all seven of their matches.
– Fort Hare are on a seven-game winning streak in the FNB Varsity Shield, which is their longest in FNB Varsity Shield history. The record is 14 by FNB UWC between 2017 and 2018.
– FNB UFH have beaten FNB CPUT twice in the FNB Varsity Shield, with a one-point victory in 2018 and a two-point victory earlier this season.
– FNB UFH have a 42.9% winning record at home in the FNB Varsity Shield.
– If Fort Hare win on Thursday night, they will become the sixth different FNB Varsity Shield champion.
– FNB CPUT are the two-time defending FNB Varsity Shield champions, having won the previous two titles.
– This will be FNB CPUT’s third consecutive FNB Varsity Shield final. They won both previous finals, against the FNB Madibaz in 2019 and the FNB WSU All Blacks in 2021.
– FNB CPUT have never lost an FNB Varsity Shield final, winning both their previous finals, with both victories coming away from home.
– FNB CPUT are on a two-game winning streak in the FNB Varsity Shield.
– FNB CPUT have a 70.8% winning record away from home in the FNB Varsity Shield, which is the third-best road record in FNB Varsity Shield history.
– If FNB CPUT win on Thursday night, they will equal FNB CUT Ixias’ record of three FNB Varsity Shield titles.
PLAYER TRIVIA
– Six players have scored a pair of tries in a final, but there has never been a hat-trick scored in an FNB Varsity Shield final.
– Flyhalf Keith Chiwara is the all-time leading point-scorer for FNB UFH in the FNB Varsity Shield with 113.
– Chiwara has scored 63 points this season, which is the fourth most by an FNB UFH player in an FNB Varsity Shield season.
– Chiwara needs 14 points to break the record for most points scored by an FNB UFH player in an FNB Varsity Shield season. The current record is 76 points set by Jeandre Christian in 2017.
– Centre Ryan Maree needs one try to equal the record for most tries scored by an FNB UFH player in a Varsity Shield season. The current record is six, set by Chiwara in 2021.
– Hooker Kamvelihle Fatyela needs two tries to equal the record for most tries scored by an FNB UFH player in an FNB Varsity Shield season. The current record is six, set by Chiwara in 2021.
– Chiwara scored 11 points (one conversion, three penalties) against FNB CPUT earlier this season.
– FNB CPUT flyhalf Feghon-Leigh Snyders scored 13 points (one try, one conversion, one drop goal and one penalty) in the 2021 FNB Varsity Shield final against the FNB WSU All Blacks.
– Snyders is the all-time leading point-scorer for FNB CPUT in the FNB Varsity Shield with 137.
– Snyders has scored 58 points this season, which is the second-most by an FNB CPUT player in an FNB Varsity Shield season. The record is 96 set by Ralton October in 2019.
– Snyders is the fifth-highest point-scorer in FNB Varsity Shield history with 137.
He needs 13 points to move above Aidynn Cupido (FNB UWC) to fourth on the all-time list.
FNB VARSITY SHIELD FINAL RESULTS
2011: FNB CUT Ixias 25 FNB Wits 18 2012: FNB Wits 19 CUT Ixias 17 2013: FNB CUT Ixias 29 FNB UWC 19 2014: FNB CUT Ixias 35 UKZN Impi 26 2015: FNB UKZN Impi 29 FNB Wits 24 2016: FNB Wits 39 FNB UWC 2 2017: FNB UWC 45 FNB UFH Blues 2 2018: FNB UWC 55 FNB WSU All Blacks 10 2019: FNB CPUT 32 FNB Madibaz 28 2021: FNB CPUT 30 FNB WSU All Blacks 26
